Chess Strategy

Mio’s Hidden Ideas by IM Miodrag Perunovic

Dragon variation was a real nightmare for e4 players some 15 years ago! Particularly when players like Kiril Georgiev, Boris Alterman, Chris Ward and Thomas Ernst introduced it to their repertoire. Even Kasparov used it in his match for the World Championship against Anand in a few deciding games with big success! Nowadays, GM’s like Sergey Tivjakov, Fedorov, Golubev and a few others play it with solid results, although none of the top 20 plays it anymore. This might be the reason for the “Dragoners” to feel a bit insecure, losing their confidence. If devoted Dragoners like Georgiev and Alterman don’t play it anymore - it is time to introduce new fresh ideas and bring the Dragon back to life!

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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6
We will start with some of the rare sidelines. Future articles will go over moves like 6. Be2; 6. Bc4; 6.g3 What can be the motif of playing sidelines with White pieces in an early stage of the game? The answer is simple and logical - 1) White wants to surprise Black, one of the very common strategies nowadays; 2) White wants to avoid the complications in the main Dragon lines, and by playing these rare moves, he simply reduces time necessary for preparation. So, White has a few interesting possibilities here but none of them is dangerous for Black! Sidelines are: 6.Nd5?! - rare and not the best attempt to surprise an opponent; 6. h4!? - pretty savage move; 6. h3!? with the idea of playing g4!?; 6. Bg5!? Bg7 7. Bb5!? - just an awkward variation, possibly good as surprise, nothing special; 6. Bc4 - maybe the best attempt to take an advantage with White pieces in B70 ECO code; 6. Be2 - calm move, and without real danger for Black; 6. g3!? - many good GMs like fianchetto variations, we have covered one of the subvariations in our previous article.

6.h4!?
By playing this kind of move in the early stage of the game, White clearly announces that he is going for the kill. It could be a very interesting idea against calm and slow-paced players, but the point is: Who would play Dragon with black if he is calm player I think that first to try 6.h4 was Drasko Velimirovic in his game against Watson, but the outcome was depressing for him.

6…Nc6!
There is a big difference between 6…Nc6! and 6…Bg7!? In the situation when, we can say, White started an early action instead of completing development, it is important to challenge his unsupported pieces as soon as possible. Nc6 does that well on Nd4, and Bg7 will follow next. a) 6…Bg7!? 7.h5!? [Also possible is 7.Be3!? Ng4 8.Bb5+ Kf8 (8…Bd7?? 9.Qxg4!+-) 9.Qf3!? and after few odd moves by White, we have an absolutely unclear position. But I think that White has some initiative here] 7…Nxh5 8.Be3 Nc6 9.Qd2 Nf6 10.f3 h5!? Position is unclear, but the whole point of the h4-h5!? sacrifice was to gain tempis for development and open the h-file at the same time, thus making 0-0 a bit more daring. Of course, Black can play waiting moves like Bd7-Qa5-Rc8, and seek for active game with the King exposed in the center. b) 6…h5 This is also playable, but I would prefer not to permanently cede g5-square to White.

7.h5
7.Be3?! Ng4; 7.Be2 Nxd4 8.Qxd4 Bg7; Most interesting is 7.Bc4 Bg7 8.Nde2 a6 9.f3 b5 10.Bb3 Qb6! [Preventing logical Be3] 11.h5 Nxh5 12.Nd5 Qd8 13.g4 Nf6 14.Nxf6+ exf6 15.Qd5 (15.Bd5!? Bb7) 15…Ne5!! [Amazing move! Black sacrifices a whole Rook for the initiative.] 16.Qxa8 Nxf3+ 17.Kf1 0-0! [Georgiev calmly keeps on developing his pieces, in spite of the fact that he is Rook down. His hopes are grounded on his ability to exploit the exposed and vulnerable position of White King.] 18.Bf4 Qd7 19.Rd1 Qxg4 20.Qa7 Ng5 21.Qe3 Re8 22.Bd5 Bf5! 23.Bxg5 fxg5 24.Qf2 Be6 25.Qg2 Bxb2 26.Qxg4 Bxg4 27.Kf2 h5 Bozidar Ivanovic - Kiril Georgiev 1996. Georgiev won, due to the fact that four pawns for Rook and his pair of Bishops are more than sufficient compensation! Another reason to believe in Dragon, spirit usually wins over the material!

7…Nxh5 8.g4 Nxd4! 9.gxh5
9.Qxd4 Bg7 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Qd5 Interesting idea is 11…Nf6! [Technical way is 11…Bxc3+!? 12.bxc3 Nf6 13.Qxb7 Bxb5 14.Qxb5+ Qd7 and the resulting endgame is clearly favoring Black. White has serious problems with weak pawns g4, e4, c2 and c3.] 12.Qxb7 0-0!

9…Nc6 10.hxg6 fxg6 11.Bh6?
11.Qd5!? [Is interesting because Bg7? is not possible in view of Rh7! But Black has solid solutions] 11…Bg4! [This move popped up in my analysis. Idea is pretty simple, Qd7 as soon as possible and in the same time not to allow White to castle so easy. 11…Bg7? 12.Rxh7!] 12.Be3 [12.Rh4?! e6! 13.Qb5 Qxh4 14.Qxb7 Rd8 15.Qxc6+ Kf7] 12…Bg7!? 13.Rxh7 Bxc3+! 14.bxc3 Rxh7 15.Qg8+ Kd7 16.Qxh7 Qh8! [The key point in this line! Now White is forced to make exchanges and to play middlegame with a weak pawn structure!] 17.Qxh8 Rxh8

11…Bxh6 12.Rxh6 Qb6!
Aiming at serious weaknesses f2 and b2.

13.Qd2
13.Nd5? Qxb2 14.Rb1 Qg7!-+

13…Bg4!
Again this motif on interception. King stuck in the center for the time of being and Black is threatening Nd4.

14.Bh3 Ne5 15.Bxg4 Nxg4 16.Rh3 0-0!-+ Black was clearly superior in Velimirovic - Watson 1986.

6.h3!?
I have to admit I fancy this line with White pieces. The plan is simple, play h3-g4-Bg2-Be3-Qd2 and 0-0-0 (with some risks) or 0-0. I prefer the later, with calm position and some advantage in development. With h3!? White can cope with Black’s reaction in the center. I’ve tried this plan twice with White pieces and easily won both games. So, if you like solid pawn structures and rare, uncovered and unexpected lines, then this could be recommended for you!

6…Bg7 7.g4!?
7.Bc4 will transpose to a major line in the B70 code - the same as 6. Bc4 Bg7 7. h3

7…Nc6 8.Be3
Logical move, White is strengthening Nd4 before playing Bg2. Other possibilities are 8.Nb3!? or 8. Nde2.
a) 8.Nb3!? 0-0 9.Bg2 a5!? 10.a4 e5?!
[I believe Ne5 or Be6 are more in the spirit of Dragon. On the other hand, e5 prevents possible f4, Black will take exf4 and establish strong outpost with Ne5. Pawn on e5 paralyzes what may be White’s most important minor piece - the Bishop on g2! At the same time, the pawn on d6 becomes a real weakness. a1) 10…Be6! Idea is very simple - Bc4 to prevent White castling. After 11.0-0 Bc4, black will have Nd7 and Nde5, and potential threats of Bxb3 or Bxc3, ruining White’s pawn structure. 11.0-0 (11.Nd5 Ne5 12.0-0) 11…Bc4 12.Re1 Rc8; a2) 10…Ne5!? 11.f4 Nc4 12.Qe2 Nb6 13.Be3 Be6 14.Rd1 Nc4]
11.0-0 Be6 [This position resembles Najdorf Sicilian. One of the possible ideas for Black here is Nb4 with d5!] 12.Nd5 [Right on time! Preventing suggested plan for Black, but on the other hand, this closes the d-file and the pawn on d6 is not a weakness any more.] 12…Bxd5 13.exd5 Ne7 14.Be3 It is obvious that White is doing fine here. Better development, more space and the Bishop pair give him a slight but permanent advantage.
b) 8.Nde2 0-0 9.Bg2 Rb8!?

[This plan is similar to many others when White plays 6.g3 against the Dragon. The setup is like Rb8-b5-b4-e6-Qe7-Bb7, etc. Actually, if someone knows how to play against the line with 6.g3, he would know how to handle this line as well.]
10.0-0 b5 11.Be3 e6!? [A very flexible move. Black wants to play d5 later, makes space for his Queen on e7, followed by Rd8 and Bb7.] 12.Nd4!? [Perhaps White can try e5!? This is very common motif in all g3 systems against the Sicilian defence. 12.e5!? Nxe5 13.f4 Nc4 14.Bxa7 Ba6! 15.Bxb8 Qxb8 with wonderful compensation for the material.] 12…Nxd4 13.Bxd4 b4 14.Ne2 Qc7 [With a few logical moves, black has easily equalized] 15.f4 [Aiming for e5!] 15…e5! [Right on! Preventing the e5 idea, Black will take later on f4 and play …Bb7 and …Re8, and all of a sudden, White e4-pawn will become very weak!] 16.Be3 Bb7! 17.Bxa7 Rbc8;

8…0-0
8…d5!? [An interesting possibility tested in the game Fontaine - Bacrot 1995] 9.Bb5! [9.exd5?! Nxd5 10.Nxc6 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 bxc6 12.Bg2 Qd7!] 9…Bd7 10.exd5 Nb4 11.Bc4 [11.d6!?] 11…Rc8 12.Bb3 Rxc3! [Almost forced line thus far] 13.bxc3 Nbxd5 14.Qd3 [14.Qf3 Nxe3 15.Qxe3 (the same as Qd3) 15…0-0 16.0-0 Qc7 Fontaine - Bacrot 1995] 14…Nxe3 15.Qxe3

9.Bg2 Nd7!?
One of many possibilities here. Second best in my opinion is 9…e6!? aiming for d5 10.0-0 d5 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 exd5 13.Qd2. Well known from many different variations. Objectivelly, Black has no serious problems, but it has to be mentioned that pawn on d5 is isolated and that makes this position slightly better for White. 13…Be6 14.Rad1 Rc8 Once upon a time, the great Nimzovich said: “In positions with an isolated pawn, all you have to do is to block it!” Seventy years later, Bent Larsen said: “In my candidate matches I tried to block the isolated pawn and - nothing! Now I know - Don’t block it - Take it!” No comment- clever conclusion! 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.b3 Qc7 17.Bc5 Rfe8 18.Rfe1 Bd7 19.Rxe8+ Rxe8 20.c4 Be6 21.cxd5 cxd5 22.Bd4 Bxd4 23.Qxd4 Qc2! 24.Rd2 Qc1+ draw in Wahlblom - Ernst 2000 [25.Kh2 Qc7+ 26.Kg1 Qc1+]

10.0-0 Nde5
In many Sicilians, always useful resource is Nc4.

11.b3
White wants to play Nce2 and pawn to c4, grabbing even more space in the center. Always be aware that this is a perspective plan, giving good chances to White later on.

11…Qa5 12.Nce2 Bd7 13.c4!
Now Rc1 and Nc3 is an idea for follow-up.

13…Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Rac8!
Important is to clarify that common move in similar positions - b5, would be dubious because of 15. c5! Prophylactic 14. …Rac8 is stopping 15.c5 and immediately threatens …b5 next! Prophylactic moves - soul of chess! [14…b5?! 15.c5!]

15.a4 Nc6 16.Bxg7 Kxg7=
Black shouldn’t experience any difficulties from now on.

17.Ra2?! [17.f4=] 17…h5! 18.f3 Qg5 19.Qd2 Qc5+ 20.Rf2 hxg4 21.hxg4 Rh8! Harter - Oblitas Guerrero 1998. Idea is to play on the h-file (to pile up Rooks), and Black should be able to break through by using the weakness of the dark squares.

6.Nd5?
Tricky attempt, but in general suspicious move. White is wasting valuable tempo in the opening, at the same time loosening support on the e4 pawn.

6…Bg7!
According to Tivjakov, the best way to fight the extravagancy. a) 6…Nxd5!? 7.exd5 Qa5+ [7…Bg7 8.c3 0-0 9.Be3] 8.c3 Qxd5 9.Be2!? Qxg2 10.Bf3 Qh3; b) 6…Nxe4? 7.Nb5! Na6 8.Qd4! Nf6 9.Qc3!+-

7.Nxf6+
7.Bb5+?! Bd7 8.0-0 Nc6 9.Nb3?! [Definitely not the best move. White should have tried with something like 9.Nxc6!? bxc6 10.Nxf6+ Bxf6 11.Bc4 0-0 12.c3=] 9…a6 10.Be2 Nxe4 11.Be3 0-0 12.Bb6 Qc8 13.Bd4 Bxd4 14.Nxd4 Qd8! [Cool defencive move that easily transposes into much better middlegame where Black is a healthy pawn up.] 15.Re1 e6 16.Ne3 Nxf2! eventually 0-1 in Litllewood-Pert.

7…Bxf6 8.Be2
8.Bh6?! [Maybe White prevents castling with Bh6, but Black’s got a chance to use the strong Bf6 and diagonal a7- g1 with Qb6.] 8…Qb6! 9.c3 Qxb2 10.Bb5+ Nd7 11.Rc1 Qxa2! [An improvement compared to the game Smith -Tivjakov where black played 11…Qa3?! 12.0-0 a6 13.Ba4 Qc5 Smith - Tivjakov 2001] 12.0-0 Qa5! With regular retreat on c7 or d8, where two extra pawns will be enough for an easy execution.

8…Nc6 9.Nb3
9.Be3!? 0-0 10.0-0 d5! [Old Nimzovich recipe, central reaction at the right moment - means at least equalization!] 11.exd5 Qxd5 12.Bf3 Qa5! [One of the typical ideas for Dragon players. By sacrificing a pawn on c6, Black will take control of the b-file and increase the scope for Bishop on f6.] 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Bxc6 Rb8

9…0-0 10.c3 Be6!
Again, with the idea of playing timely d5.

11.Be3 d5 12.Nc5 d4 13.cxd4 Bxd4 14.Bxd4 Nxd4 15.0-0 Rc8 16.Nxe6 fxe6!!
Fantastic reasoning. After 16. … fxe6!! Black will have ‘’eternal Knight'’ on d4, and at the same time it opens the f-file! The Knight is clearly dominating against Bishop, and Black heavy pieces will generate strong pressure along all those open files.

17.Bg4 Qb6!
Not only attacking the pawn on b2, but at the same time having an eye on potential weakness on f2 and threatening Rcd8!

18.Rc1 Rcd8 19.Qe1 Rf4! Lauk - Norri 1995. An wonderful example of combined deep opening knowledge and a nice middlegame understanding!

6.Bg5!? Bg7 7.Bb5+
7.Qd2?! Nc6! 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.0-0-0 0-0 10.e5 Ne8 11.exd6 Nxd6 12.Bxe7?! [12.h4!?] 12…Qxe7 13.Qxd6 Qg5+ Rauzer - Kan 1936. With the wide open Dragon Bishop, b-file and dangerous pair of Bishops, Black has great attacking chances here.

7…Bd7 8.Qe2 a6
When I analysed this position, I very much liked castle with quick Qa5-Rc8 against White’s long castle 8…0-0!? 9.0-0-0 Qa5! 10.Nb3!?
a) 10.f4 Bg4 11.Nf3 Nc6 12.Kb1 [12.e5 Nh5! 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Bxe7 Nxf4 15.Qe4 dxe5! 16.Bxf8 Rxf8 17.Qxc6 Rc8 With a very promising position. Potential ideas are Rc3! ,e4!?, Ng2 etc…] 12…Rfc8 13.Bxf6 [13.Bc4 Nb4 14.a3 Nxc2! 15.Kxc2 Nxe4! Some old Dragon tricks 16.Nxe4 (16.Qxe4?? Bf5-+) 16…d5!] 13…Bxf6 14.Nd5 Nb4! Horvath - Jovicic 1984;
b) 10.Kb1 a6 11.Bxd7 [11.Bxf6? axb5! Vitolinsh - Shirov 1988] 11…Qxg5 12.h4 Qe5 13.Bh3 Nc6 14.Nf3 Qa5;
c) 10.Rhe1 Rc8 11.Nb3 Bxb5 [11…Qb6!? 12.Bxd7 (12.Bd3 Be6 13.Be3 Qd8 14.Nd4 Bd7) 12…Nbxd7 13.Kb1 a5] 12.Qxb5 Qxb5 13.Nxb5 Nc6=; 10…Bxb5 11.Qxb5 Qxb5 12.Nxb5 Nbd7=

9.Bxd7+ Nbxd7 10.0-0-0
10.h4!? would have been strong move, hadn’t Black had strong reply 10…h6. This is the best. Some players have tried h5?! but without much success. With 10…h6, Black is immediately challenging White Bishop and he has to choose between the exchange and retreat. 11.Bxf6 [11.Be3!? Rc8! Threat is Rc3 and Ne4] 11…Nxf6 12.0-0-0 Qa5 13.Nb3 [13.f4 Rc8! 14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5 Nd5 16.Qg4 Rxc3! 17.Nb3 Qc7 18.bxc3 Nxc3 Giaccio - Hoffman 1993] 13…Qe5! [Exploiting the absence of White’s dark-squared Bishop] 14.g3 Rc8 15.f4 Qe6! [15…Qh5!? This move was seen in one game, but I would prefer avoiding Queens’ exchange, keeping the diversity in attack 16.Qd3 0-0 17.Rhe1 Rfe8 18.Re2 e5 German - Hoffman 1995] 16.Rhe1 0-0 17.Qf3 Rc4 18.Nd4 Qc8 19.Kb1 e6 20.Rd2 b5 21.a3 Qc7 22.g4 Rb8 [Dream position in Sicilian Dragon! Setup is very flexible, Bg7 has wonderful perspective and immediate threat is b4.] 23.g5 b4! 24.axb4 Rcxb4 25.Nb3 hxg5 26.hxg5 Nh5 27.f5 Be5! [After Black avoided the f6-lock, White can throw his towel in the ring.] 28.Rh1 Qc4 29.fxg6 fxg6 30.Rf2 R4b7 31.Qg4 Bxc3 32.bxc3 Rxb3+ 33.cxb3 Qxb3+ 34.Kc1 Qb1+ 35.Kd2 Qb2+ 0-1 Schula - Palkovi 1997. Typical Dragon game.
10.f4?! Nh5! threatening h6

10…0-0
10…Rc8!? [Moves like Rc8 are always on the top of consideration. Naturally, Black wants to have Rc3 and Qa5 at hand.] 11.Nd5! [Only good move, escaping from Rc3. This was suggested by Donev in his analysis and Ulybin played it against Ivanchuk. (11.f4?! Now Black goes with his main idea 11…Rxc3! 12.bxc3 Qc7 Masserey - Hoffman 1994)] 11…h6 12.Bh4 Qa5 13.Kb1 Nxd5 14.exd5 Nf6 15.Nb3 Qc7 Ulybin - Ivanchuk 1985. The position is unclear. Black might consider a5-a4 here, or prepare for castle. A possible continuation is 16.Rhe1 0-0 17.c3 Rfe8 and Black is clearly doing fine here.

11.f4 Rc8 12.e5
The following game is just a prototype for this line! It should emphasize the potential attacking motifs for players with Black pieces.

12…dxe5
12…Rxc3!? [This sacrifice is always on the Sicilian Dragon menu.] 13.bxc3 Nd5 [Prospects of Nc3, Qa5, Rc8, ensure us that Black has very satisfactory position.] 14.Qf3 [14.Ne6!? looks interesting 14…fxe6 15.exd6 N5f6 16.Qxe6+ Rf7 17.dxe7 Qxe7 18.Qxe7 Rxe7 19.Rhe1 but it is obvious that Black is better here.]

13.fxe5 Qa5 14.Nf3
14.Bxf6!? exf6 15.Nb3! [15.e6 Ne5!] 15…Qd8! 16.e6 fxe6 17.Qxe6+ Rf7 18.Rhe1 Qc7 Definitely this was better choice for White, but he probably didn’t expect that Black was ready to sacrifice whole Rook!

14…Rxc3!! 15.exf6 exf6 16.Rxd7
16.Bd2?? [Whenever White puts his Bishop on d2, always remember the following motif!] 16…Qxa2 17.Bxc3 Bh6+! and mate cannot be avoided.

16…fxg5 17.bxc3 Qxc3
At the first glance, someone might be thinking that Black is in serious trouble But his game is perfectly sound, couple of pawns, fantastic diagonal h8-a1 and attack on the White King are worth a Rook!

18.Rxb7?! Qa1+! 19.Rb1 [19.Kd2 Rd8-+] 19…Bb2+ 20.Kd2 Rd8+ 21.Nd4 [21.Ke3 Bd4+!-+] 21…Rxd4+ 22.Ke3 Qxa2 23.Kf2 [23.g3 Qd5-+] 23…Rf4+ 24.Kg3 Qa3+ 25.Qd3 Bd4!! [The most liked combinations always include Queen sacrifice ] 26.Kh3 [26.Qxa3?? Bf2+ 27.Kh3 Rh4#] 26…g4+! 27.Kh4 Qe7+ 28.Kg3 Bf2+ 29.Kxf4 Qf6+ 30.Kxg4 h5+ 31.Kh3 Qh4# Ermenkov - West 1990.
See also Sicilian Dragon vs Fianchetto

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